More changes to SMAC, Interstate 8 conferences

Two of the biggest conferences in the area, which include four of the five city schools, have announced more changes in their lineup, just a little more than a year removed from previous sweeping changes.

The Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference and the Interstate 8 Conference both will have a different roster of teams starting in the fall of 2016.

Benton Harbor had announced in late summer it was leaving the SMAC. At a recent league meeting it was decided schools should make plans as if it won't be able to replace Benton Harbor by next year.

Late last month, the Interstate 8 learned Charlotte would be leaving the conference. In a recent league meeting, the I-8 voted to invite Hastings to replace Charlotte in the conference and that change would begin in the fall of 2016 pending board of education approval at Hastings.

The Interstate 8 Conference is only in its second year, making these changes a bit of surprise.

"Charlotte informed us that they want to go back into the league they were in before joining the I-8. Based on this information, the I-8 athletic directors met and brainstormed on a possible replacement. After meeting with the athletic director from Hastings High School, we felt Hastings would be a great fit for the Interstate 8," said Harper Creek Athletic Director Ed Greenman.

Four of the I-8 teams originally came from the SMAC prior to last year, as that conference had to undergoes drastic changes just a year ago also. With Benton Harbor leaving the conference, it means there is an odd number of teams in the league. The conference also has established rules previously that football teams had to schedule non-division contests against teams in the conference in cross-over games. It is now expected, if you had Benton Harbor on your 2016 schedule, you have to go out of conference to find a replacement.

"It's all up in the air. With 11 teams (left in the conference) it makes it difficult scheduling football as everyone has a hole in their schedule. We can make all the sports schedules work, just harder in football - finding a football game in the middle of your schedule can be tricky, especially if you need a home game, balancing your schedule out. At this time we don't know of another school that would like to join us. We're looking though," Lakeview Athletic Director Greg Hermsen said.